Ventura County Wine Trail Celebration
The Ventura County Wine Trail held it's 7th annual Celebration recently at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard. The proceeds from the event were donated to Ventura County Food Share.
The commerative wine glasses were handed out at the beginning and the new 2014-2015 Ventura County Wine Trail Wine Tasting Guide was distributed as guests left.
It's a very nice new booklet and it's getting closer to fitting in your pocket every year. Wonder if there's an app for that? (Click here for the 2013 map.)
Kathy Moreno, Owner/Chef at The Kitchen, served up a great selection of cupcakes and the red ones included Sunland Vintage Winery's Tre Ragazzi red wine in them.
Alma Sol Winery poured a nice red and white:
2013 Sauvignon Blanc, Paso Robles
2009 Encantada Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
Tuna treats on wontons from Twenty 88.
Chocolate Terrine with Wine Sauce from The Waterside Restaurant & Wine Bar.
Cantara Celllars 2010 Zinfandel and 2010 Frankenvine were fantastic, as usual.
Herzog Wine Cellars' Joe Hurliman (of Wining with Joe fame) poured a Baron Herzog Pinot Grigio and a 2012 Herzog Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah blend. Both were excellent!
Chef Gabe Garcia from Tierra Sur served up a couple of delicious dishes. I liked his brisket on a bun with a pickle best.
George Gilpatrick and Faye Hawes of Rancho Ventavo Cellars poured their 2008 Essa, a great Central Coast blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah.
Café Zack served a slow roasted Boar Shank--oven roasted with a rich demi-glaze.
Rhumb Line - The Sunset Restaurant served Duck Confit Sliders with Pulled Duck Confit, Pickled Red Onions & Spicy Blueberry BBQ Sauce on a Sweet Hoagie Roll. Yum!
Scott Ballew & Katie Wiegers of Strey Cellars poured their very good new wines: 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 Tempranillo, and 2012 Merlot.
A videocam probably would have been better for this scene... Close to the Blue Latitude band the dancers strayed from the dance floor to dance with the Strey Cellars table. Blue Latitude's beat was hard to resist... what'd I say?
Tim & Debby Gandy of Magnavino Cellars poured the 2011 Zinfandel, 2011 Magnatude, and (my favorite) 2011 Tuscan Romance.
And winemaker/owner Rober Wagner previewed his 2012 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley - great news! A very nice addition to a fantastic red wine lineup.
Paradise Pantry always puts out a great feast that draws great lines of people.
Four Brix was happy to be pouring Rhondezvous, a Rhone blend with 47% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre, and I was happy to taste it again!
When Sandy Seekins and Tom Hilton talk about wine and food on their radio show, Tom & Sandy's 805 on 1590 KVTA, they know what they are talking about! I think I've seen them at every major wine festival I've ever been to in the 805 area.
Attack of the giant Mime Grapvine Girl is always entertaining.
Mark & Theresa Delgado of I Would Rather Be Baking Company served some tasty treats - I liked the chipotle-flavored ones on the top best.
Settebello Pizzaria Napoletana & Bar served this colorful Antipasto.
Marlow Bargen, winemaker and owner of Plan B Wine Cellars, poured his 2011 GSM and 2011 Petite Sirah. They were both very good!
Norm & Christie Stafford from Aldabella Custom Crush Winery had their 2012 Chardonnay, Ventura County; 2012 Bella Rosso Red Wine, South Coast; 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara County; and 2012 Syrah, South Coast wines available for tasting. Lisa Milano poured me the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Bruce Freeman’s Clos des Amis wine was available for sale (2011 Chardonnay Mitchell Vineyard) and a Pinot Noir was available to taste as well (2011 Pinot Noir Bryman Vineyard). It was a very good Pinot Noir. See page 39 of Edible Ojai & Ventura County magazine for more info about Bruce Freeman and Clos des Amis.
The sub sandwiches from Gandolfo's New York Delicatessen were very filling.
BooHoo, no food left from LooHoo's - Asian Comfort Food by the time I got there! The Braised Pork Belly with Ginger Scallion Gremolata treats must have been great! All 500 were gone very fast.
HAKA by Labyrinth poured their 2010 Freebird and 2012 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County--both very good wines.
Panaro Brothers Winery assistant winemaker poured their 2010 Sauvignon Blanc.
La Dolce Vita Ristorante & Lounge
Kabuki Japanese Restaurant made a crispy California Roll.
Brittany Rice of Millésimé Cellars poured me a very nice 2012 Touriga Nacional, Paso Robles. They also poured a 2013 Orange Muscat, Santa Barbara County and a 2011 Merlot, Alexander Valley.
Michael & Debby Giovinazzo of Sunland Vintage Winery poured some nice red wines. I liked the NV Tre Ragazzi (45% Nebbiolo, 35% Barbera, 20% Sangiovese) and the Delicate Princess (42% Merlot, 34% Petite Sirah, 24% Sangiovese).
Sunland Vintage fans.
Good pasta at Enzo's Italian Restaurant.
Audio mixer for Blue Latitude. The twelve piece band played some great pop tunes. Click here to listen to BL performing "What'd I Say."
Sandy, Lauren and Tom thank the crowd for supporting Ventura County Food Share.
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